Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-07-14
ON The SAME ROAD.
By KATE NOVEL;.

BIZ KATE NOVEL;.
Nature does not shed her beauties alone
in those parts of our universe where tour
lists and sight-seers most frequently visit,
for the world in some of it's obscurest
places is filled with beauties that have
escaped the eyes of its lovers.
Who would have thought of travelling in
stage twenty miles from the nearest
railroad station, or footing il at a neces-
sarily slow pace over the hills and rocks
of Cheshire county, to see bow aptly nat
ure had done her work In this particular
place? As for the inhabitants of the
little hamlet nestled up among the hills,
very few of them had time to think of
such matters of feasting their eyes on
naturalloveliness, or even giving thought
to their surroundings. Their only object
in life seemed to be to get up at 5, eat the
required number of meals, attend to the
duties of the day and go to bed again
when night came. There was very little
variety in the lives of these people, yet
they seemed to be we'll enough contented
with their lot, except that now and then
some ambitious spirit would overleap the
bounds and make a journey out into the
world, TO see what people were doing there,
md those who did become so bold very
arely returned to the old way of living.
One of these Disconnected spirits, who
refused to believe that everything the
world contained was found up here among
the hills of Cheshire county, was young
and rather good-looking girl. 1t seemed
to Janet Gray as if this dull, monotonous,
unvaryipg routine would never end, and
every day she longed more and more to
leave 1t.
1t was on bright morning early in
May, that, returning from an GRAND, she
threw herself down by the brook to rest
and to thiRk. Her face was flushed with
fast walking, and with her dark hair and
eyes showing to quite an advantage with
her new bingham dress, Janet presented
quite pretty picture to William Thomas
Toy, as he observed her from the corn
field some yards away. But Thomas was
man who did not consider wish long
ere he strived to fulfill it; and was soon
at her side. She looked mp with a sur
prised air when she heard his "Good
morning." and said ooh! it is you, is it?'
then lapsed again into her thoughtful
mood. He d her awhile in silence,
being &c .ccustomed to Janet's
way nr without reason; but
fin up courage to make
ar
likes you SO thoughtful
thi
- Aswsred after a pause, 81
want y pine. I am so confused
this MORN lat can hardly see my
way to do whay am determined to do.
| am going away" The young man gave
a start, "This place is positively I'M
bearable longer. Some folks may be
content to drag out their lives in such a
place as this, but am going where can
be and do something. 1t does seem to
me such positive nonsense for people to
be willing to live along in a hand to-
mouth sort of way, up here among these
hills and never do anything of note in
the world except what every mortal does
to preserve life namely, eat, drink and
sleep. 1t is like being buried alive!"
Having delivered herself of this I'M
maidenly speech, Tom sat waiting for
more, but more didn't come. At last he
veatured to say:
jamie, am sorry you are so tired of
all of as; but If you want to go over yOA
der hills and do something honest and
honorable in the world, you'll go, and L
know better than to say one word of him
dranoe."
Eyes, Tommy Toy, that is the first
right down sensible thing l ever heard
you say" she answered, with half smile
"Of course, you know better than to him
der me, if you could. I'll remember you
for your kind intentions. / am not SO
tired of you, Thomas, Nor any of the
rest of the folks. l don't want to go out
of your lives altogether; but it is these
lonely, rocky hills, and this birdcage life
that tires me. just think, Tom, If 1 would
stay here all my life, what record I
would have, and whom die how it would
sound to read on my gravestone:
Here lies to body of Janet Gray,
Where she's gone, she's gone to stay
BY the way, Tom, what kind of q poetess
do you think I'd maker"
"Janie," said Tom, "Your ambitions are
all right. As for poetry, never try that,
whatever you do. 1t isn't every poor
rhymer that wins fame, nor every aspi-
rant attains glory. 1t is time and chance
with everybody. The race is not always
TO the swift, nor the battle to the strong"
''Look here, William Thomas Toy, am
well convinced you'd discourage me if
you could; but all the scriptures you can
quote and all the arguments you can use
won't better your case one iota. do not
intend to make rhyming my profession.
But say, Thomas, don't you think 1 am
rather a fair scribe?"
"Why, JAMIE" said Tom, "who would
deny the facts 1 wish to goodness 1
could write as fair a hand; but these
clumsy laborer's hands of mine were
never meant to hold pes dantily. But,
jamie, what prompted you to ask me such
question? Give us something more
closely related to the subject. How is it
that you wish me to help you? am
ready to do all can"
That I'll tell you. OF course I'll
oreax this news to Lizzie first; but how
ever much | try to soften the astounding
revelation, no doubt it will be worse than
If cyclone had dipped down and borne
that false top not of hers to the four
winds. | meant no harm to Lizzie by the
remark, so don't stare so; 1 think NV
stepmother just as nice as you do. She
means well at any any rate, though she
can't for the life of her, see why folks
don't like this outlandish region as well
as she does. Now for your part, Tom,
Al